Sexual assault suspect blames twin brother for attacks

DNA links man to 2 sexual assaults on children, including a young girl in Madison

First Lt. Aaron Gregory Lucas says he's being blamed for crimes committed by his twin brother.

The Associated Press

Published: Friday, November 1, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 1, 2013 at 12:12 a.m.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — An Army officer tied by DNA to sexual assaults on children in two states says he's being blamed for the crimes of his twin brother.

In an Oct. 22 court filing, attorneys for 1st Lt. Aaron Gregory Lucas say investigators picked the wrong Lucas after discovering a DNA link to an unsolved attack on a young girl in Madison, Ala., in 2007, and another in Texarkana, Texas, in 2009.

Lucas, 31, is charged with luring or trying to lure 11 girls into his vehicle in Colorado, where he is stationed, between 2009 and 2012. He has pleaded not guilty. Trial is set for Jan. 4, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported Thursday

The Fort Carson, Colo., artillery officer also is charged with child enticement and sexual abuse of a child younger than 12 in Madison. Texarkana police say they are waiting on the district attorney's office there to approve an arrest warrant on similar charges.

Forensic analysts commonly testify that DNA matches are definitive “in the absence of an identical twin.”

Brian Lucas has not been charged and could not be located for comment, the Gazette said. It said Brian Lucas had previous addresses in Madison and in Texas.

A telephone message seeking comment was left Thursday for Aaron Lucas' attorneys.

El Paso County prosecutors say the Colorado victims' ages ranged from 6 to 9 and that they were targeted at random in Colorado Springs and nearby Fountain by a man who tried to coax them into sex with promises of money and ice cream. Prosecutors contend three girls were assaulted during the encounters.

The incidents began shortly after Aaron Lucas' arrival at Fort Carson with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

A Colorado Springs police detective, Fred Walker, has testified the assaults stopped while Aaron Lucas was deployed to Afghanistan.

Aaron Lucas' attorneys say an unidentified third man is responsible for the Colorado assaults.

Lucas was being held at El Paso County jail on $1.2 million bond. He could face life behind bars if convicted.

<p>COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — An Army officer tied by DNA to sexual assaults on children in two states says he's being blamed for the crimes of his twin brother. </p><p>In an Oct. 22 court filing, attorneys for 1st Lt. Aaron Gregory Lucas say investigators picked the wrong Lucas after discovering a DNA link to an unsolved attack on a young girl in Madison, Ala., in 2007, and another in Texarkana, Texas, in 2009. </p><p>Lucas, 31, is charged with luring or trying to lure 11 girls into his vehicle in Colorado, where he is stationed, between 2009 and 2012. He has pleaded not guilty. Trial is set for Jan. 4, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported Thursday </p><p>The Fort Carson, Colo., artillery officer also is charged with child enticement and sexual abuse of a child younger than 12 in Madison. Texarkana police say they are waiting on the district attorney's office there to approve an arrest warrant on similar charges. </p><p>Lucas' attorneys, Ted McClintock and Elizabeth McClintock, filed a motion Wednesday asserting that the Alabama and Texas cases involve Lewis' twin brother, Brian Lucas. </p><p>Forensic analysts commonly testify that DNA matches are definitive “in the absence of an identical twin.”</p><p>Brian Lucas has not been charged and could not be located for comment, the Gazette said. It said Brian Lucas had previous addresses in Madison and in Texas. </p><p>A telephone message seeking comment was left Thursday for Aaron Lucas' attorneys. </p><p>El Paso County prosecutors say the Colorado victims' ages ranged from 6 to 9 and that they were targeted at random in Colorado Springs and nearby Fountain by a man who tried to coax them into sex with promises of money and ice cream. Prosecutors contend three girls were assaulted during the encounters. </p><p>The incidents began shortly after Aaron Lucas' arrival at Fort Carson with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. </p><p>A Colorado Springs police detective, Fred Walker, has testified the assaults stopped while Aaron Lucas was deployed to Afghanistan. </p><p>Aaron Lucas' attorneys say an unidentified third man is responsible for the Colorado assaults. </p><p>Lucas was being held at El Paso County jail on $1.2 million bond. He could face life behind bars if convicted.</p>